After a phone-only status conference on November 19, the court issued this ruling:
Another status conference is scheduled for February 12, 2026 at 10:00 AM.
Defense counsel is permitted to attend by telephone.
Defendants agree to waive time from November 19, 2025 until revoked.
Translation into everyday English:
- No trial date set
- Nothing moving forward anytime soon
- The defense hit pause on the “speedy trial” clock
- Everything is still very much in limbo
At this pace, the Horton case may not reach a courtroom until well into 2026 — if not later.
How We Got Here — A Timeline of the Horton Scandal
Here’s the quick walk-through of the major milestones that led to this moment:
March–Nov 2021
Kickbacks allegedly begin flowing from a vendor working on SOAR Business Park projects — hidden as fake “sales commissions” to Horton’s wife’s company.
2021–2022
Projects expand to include Minford Emergency Ambulance Service, and prosecutors say the kickback scheme expands along with it.
June 2024
📌 Investigators raid Scioto County offices
Horton is placed on administrative leave…
then controversially reinstated by Commissioners Bryan Davis & Cathy Coleman.
Feb 2025
Scioto County Grand Jury indicts:
- Robert Horton – bribery, theft in office, aggravated theft, money laundering, tampering with records, obstructing justice, and more
- Lioubov (Luba) Horton – telecommunications fraud, tampering with evidence, forgery, and more
- Both tied to SOAR and Minford projects
July 2025
Trial originally set to begin — but Horton’s attorney files for a continuance.
Sept 2025
Another status conference → no movement.
Nov 19, 2025
Latest status conference →
🚫 No trial date → Delay continues to February 2026
What Are Horton & His Wife Accused Of?
Robert Horton
- Theft in Office — using his public job for personal gain
- Money Laundering — hiding where money came from
- Bribery — disguised kickbacks
- Tampering with Records/Evidence — altering or creating fake documents
- Obstructing Justice — trying to influence the investigation
- Engaging in a Pattern of Corrupt Activity (aka Ohio’s version of racketeering)
Lioubov Horton
- Accused of owning the shell company used to collect the kickbacks
- Charged with telecommunications fraud, receiving stolen property, tampering, and forgery
📌 Prosecutors say public money was funneled through vendors into accounts controlled by the Hortons.
This is not a “missing tax dollars in a backpack” situation —
it’s a financial shell game, where money moved from economic development budgets into private pockets.
Meanwhile… Economic Development Is Still a Mess
The fallout has been massive:
- No permanent economic development director
- SOPA was leaderless for months
- Commissioners are still debating whether to rebuild the system, replace it entirely, or start a new nonprofit to run economic development
- Even now, significant projects remain stalled by uncertainty
Commissioner Scottie Powell has said he cannot disclose details of potential deals —
but without resolution in the Horton case, the county’s long-term plan remains unclear.
The Bottom Line
| Case | Status | Movement? | Next Date |
| Robert & Lioubov Horton | Awaiting trial | ❌ Another delay | Feb. 12, 2026 |
| Bryan Davis | Suspended on paid leave | Minimal | Dec. 2, 2025 pre-trial |
Every delay means more uncertainty for taxpayers, businesses, and the future of economic growth in Scioto County.
And right now, the future remains: “Check back later.”